Goldie Meirson Denies Reports That Irgun Controls Tel Aviv Beach

June 24, 1948

WASHINGTON (Jun. 23)

Israel is ready for peace but on one condition only–that the boundaries of the state remain intact and that the Israeli Government maintain full sovereignty over all the functions of the state, Mrs. Goldie Meirson told a press conference at the Israeli mission here today.

Referring to clashes between the Army of Israel and the Irgun, which attempted to land a ship loaded with ammunition off Tel Aviv, Mrs. Meirson said “the total Jewish community should be concentrating on efforts to fight attacks from without. We must down these clashes from within.” She said she had just been in touch with her government and branded as “fantastic” press reports that the Irgun had taken control of the Tel Aviv beach.

Mrs. Meirson sharply lashed out at the British, charging them with actively inciting the Arabs to press the fight on Israel and furnishing them with supplies. She had no comment on report that she might sent to Moscow as Israeli Minister Sailing when the question was raised, she said she was going home in about 10 days and that she had “no comment on Moscow.”